[Characteristics of the visual control of instrument information in flight maneuvers]

Visual monitoring of flight parameters in a maneuvering flight simulated by a pilot trainer was investigated. Eye movements were recorded using a Japanese NAC cinecamera. It was concluded that visual monitoring and attention concentration included chained routes of predicted sequence which was determined by current events throughout the flight. The most interesting finding was that the chains of gaze switching between angular parameters of spatial position or parameters of pitch and roll flights included several components whereas the chains of gaze switching between one parameter of the angular position and one parameter of the trajectory control or between two parameters of the trajectory control included exclusively one component. Circular or closed routes of gaze switching and chained proper or open multi-component routes were discriminated. In a complex flight the chained or circular routes between two parameters of the angular coordinates became longer. This paper describes the microstructure of gaze switching within one indicator (air horizon) and discusses important problems requiring further research.